December got off to a rough start reading wise…I couldn’t settle into anything and had a couple DNFs. I think the holiday craziness was also distracting me. But, the back half of the month was a vast improvement!
I also shared my end of the year favorites lists: Best Books of 2015, Books That Make Perfect Holiday Gifts 2015, Best Debuts of 2015, and The Best of My 2015 Backlist Reading. And, check back tomorrow for my 2015 Reading Stats update.
December Reading
December was a pretty great month of finishing up a final few 2015 releases, getting to some backlist books I’ve been meaning to read forever, and digging into my first 2016 releases. Sweetland nabbed a spot on my Best Books of 2015 list at the last possible second and I tried to cure its hangover with Along the Infinite Sea, but it didn’t live up to Beatriz Williams’ other books for me. I finally read my first Margaret Atwood novel and The Handmaid’s Tale was just as fantastic as everyone said it would be! 2016 releases started with two stellar novels…After the Crash and The Guest Room. And, I got some fantastic quotes from Dept. of Speculation, even though it didn’t really work for me overall.
Best Book of the Month
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
Fiction, 324 Pages
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Other January Releases I’m Excited About
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout (January 5)
The Past by Tessa Hadley (January 5)
American Housewife by Helen Ellis (January 12)
The Longest Night by Andria Williams (January 12)
Top Backlist Books on my “To Be Read” List
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton
Most Popular December Posts
Books that Make Perfect Holiday Gifts 2015
Best Books of 2015
A Month of Favorites: Five 2015 Books That Deserved the Hype…And Five That Didn’t
Favorite Posts by Fellow Bloggers
- Ann at Books on the Table shared three fantastic spins on the literary gift guide and end of the year “favorites” lists: How to Pick the Perfect Gift Book – And 24 Eclectic Recommendations, 5 Books NOT to Give This Holiday Season (from Nov 2014), and Top 25 Books of 2015 – Booksellers Share Their Favorites
- Helen at My Novel Opinion shared her children’s selections for Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day.
- Shannon at River City Reading cornered the market on lesser-known books this month with her 2015’s Best Books You Might Have Missed and Small Presses, Big Ideas posts.
I’m going to add Sweatland and The Handmaid’s Tail to my ‘ToRead’ list. I’m not sure if I will get to them though. I’m glad your December turned out well. Here’s to a great New Year!
I’m planning on reading After The Crash and The Guest Room. I’m also interested in The Longest Day. Some of the vintage covers, like this one, are so fun. They remind me of the clothes my mother wore when I was a kid.
6 books like that in December is a great accomplishment!
Ive been wanting to read Sweetland for forever and seeing it on your best of really only adds fuel to the fire! I LOVE stats posts so looking forward to that!
I felt the same way about Dept of Speculation – good writing/quotes, but the structure wasn’t for me.
Looking forward to hearing more about The Guest Room. And, all those new books too – they all look good! Nice cover for The Past.
Wow! Great job getting all those Best Of lists posted in December! I didn’t even manage to get my favorite audiobooks list together and just barely managed to post the Favorite Books of 2015 list before 2015 is over! A Man Called Ove was good and I probably should have included it on my favorite books, now that you mention it… I listened to The Handmaid’s Tale on audio, and really want to get to Margaret Atwood’s most recent trilogy in 2016.
It was a great month reading-wise after all. I’m glad that you liked the first two January readings. I’m going to read The Guest Room; I started the first chapter but put the book aside for a shorter one.
I finished A Man Called Ove, and I loved it in the end! It is slow to start, but hang in there. It is funny, touching, and heart-warming. An easy read when you need a pick-me-up.
You’ve had a really good month of reading, and January releases are looking so good! I was finishing my list the other day for January books and just know my shelves will be sagging from them. I received a notice about Atwood’s book being on sale. I’m debating whether to grab it or snag it at the library. I might just grab it, if it’s that good.
I can’t believe (but am very happy) that you just read your first Atwood! Next you need to read The Blind Assassin!
Thanks so much for linking to my blog! I always look forward to reading yours.Wishing you a very happy 2016 and a great year of reading.